Help with travel to port

[cruisn2castaway]

We are flying in to Orlando the night before the cruise leaves. We're trying to decide the best option for getting to the port. We could stay by the airport and catch the Cruise bus from the airport on Sunday morning, as long as we would still be able to get to the port by 11 since that is our check-in time. Or the other option is to get a hotel by the port for Saturday night, but how do we get from the airport to the port? Should we see if we can get a taxi that far or do you have any other suggestions? We're trying to not rent a car if possible. Thanks for the help!

Liz

 

[jaminmd]

We are flying in to Orlando the night before the cruise leaves. We're trying to decide the best option for getting to the port. We could stay by the airport and catch the Cruise bus from the airport on Sunday morning, as long as we would still be able to get to the port by 11 since that is our check-in time. Or the other option is to get a hotel by the port for Saturday night, but how do we get from the airport to the port? Should we see if we can get a taxi that far or do you have any other suggestions? We're trying to not rent a car if possible. Thanks for the help!

Liz

We flew in the night before, stayed at the airport which is a beautiful hotel, BTW, and then took DCL transportation to the port. It could not have been an easier process.

 

[ddixon1]

We flew in the night before, stayed at the airport which is a beautiful hotel, BTW, and then took DCL transportation to the port. It could not have been an easier process.

How much does this cost! Transfers from hotel to port? Thanks!

 

[kcashner]

Options....
1--stay at the airport Hyatt where they will handle your luggage and you will walk down to the Welcome Center in the morning. The first bus departs about 9:30; the Welcome Center opens about 8:30. Very convenient and the most expensive option.

2--stay at an MCO area hotel--most offer a complimentary shuttle to/from MCO. In the morning take the free shuttle back to MCO and ride the DCL bus to the terminal for $35 per person. A little more hassle, but you'll have all the advantages of using DCL transportation.

3--stay at an MCO area hotel that offers a cruise transportation package (Hyatt Place NW and Wyngate do this). DO check the departure time before you book this as Wyngate changed their time and ruined the service they offered! This is a lot less costly than DCL transfers.

4--rent a car at MCO. One way rentals with drop off in Cape Canaveral or Cocoa Beach are easy and the car companies offer a complimentary shuttle to the port. This allows you to choose any hotel location you wish--port or airport area.

5--stay anywhere you wish (port or MCO) and arrange a towncar/limo service to get you either to the port in the morning (from MCO) or to the hotel the night before. Cocoa Beach shuttle is a good one to get to the hotel the night before. Many hotels offer a shuttle service to the port; for others you may need a cab.

SO....LOTS of options. Decide what is most important to you. Cost? Convenience? Being able to make a store stop if you forgot something? Then decide what works best for you.

 

[kcashner]

How much does this cost! Transfers from hotel to port? Thanks!

The Hyatt MCO is usually more than $200 for the night and the transfers thru DCL are $35 per person each way.

 

[Snick]

The Hyatt MCO is usually more than $200 for the night and the transfers thru DCL are $35 per person each way.

I really didn't think it was worth the cost either for all the noise we heard. Oh man, was it EVER noisy. We faced the mall side and at one in the morning, it was bad!!! No sleep for us!

I will say however that it WAS very convenient for the Disney bus transfers. We loved that part.

 

[Donna M]

We are flying in to Orlando the night before the cruise leaves. We're trying to decide the best option for getting to the port. We could stay by the airport and catch the Cruise bus from the airport on Sunday morning, as long as we would still be able to get to the port by 11 since that is our check-in time. Or the other option is to get a hotel by the port for Saturday night, but how do we get from the airport to the port? Should we see if we can get a taxi that far or do you have any other suggestions? We're trying to not rent a car if possible. Thanks for the help!

Liz

From my understanding, you can be late for the 11:00 check in with no problem; they just don't want you to arrive earlier than your alloted time.

 

[SunLuvr321]

I have friends who have recommended the Cocoa Beach Shuttle for local transportation to the Port. I have not used them myself, but I priced them for our Feb cruise and it was about $5.10 per person each way. Everyone who recommended them has had good things to say about them.

 

[jkrislc]

On a previous DCL cruise, we opted to stay at a WDW value resort and used Magical Express and then took DCL transportation to the port. This was one of the cheaper lodging options at the time as it included transportation to the hotel and luggage handling. The down side is you'll arrive at the port later in the day.

 

[lovinmommy]

Last week we stayed at Hyatt MCO and took the DCL transfer in the morning. It worked out perfectly. Also on these boards you can find information about the Hyatt Stay Certificates (I'm at work or else I'd explain it further). When I was looking into booking our room the rate was $272!!! But I purchased the Stay Cert for $150 and then used it to book the room. So easy. They took our bags in the morning, we checked in when they opened and got the first bus and were boarding number 2. The night before we ate at Macaroni Grill at the airport, perused the shops, and then swam at the nice pool at the Hyatt. We had a balcony room that overlooked the runway. I would do it again in a heartbeat...so easy and the hotel is very very nice.

 

[catwoman25]

In September, I booked a room at the MCO Hyatt from Last Minute Travel for $104.